““I’m just afraid,” Austin tells her, his eyes still locked with hers. “I am, too.” Harper’s voice wavers at the admission, and Austin is right there, arms wrapping strongly around her back, his own fears pushed aside at the mention of hers. “I’m terrified. There’s so many variables, so many things that could go right or wrong, and that leaves me so on edge.” “You have nothing to fear. I promise you. I’ll always—” “Can you promise I didn’t spend ten years loving the wrong man? That I didn’t waste time that I should have spent with you? Can you promise this will last? Or that it won’t? Because that’s—Austin, this is—” She takes a staggering breath as she collects herself. “I promise, if you promise.” “Always.””
